# Pixelvale vs Rootflux

The clearest difference is ads: Pixelvale at none against Rootflux's shown. Pixelvale also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). Rootflux's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs weekly) and ratings volume (88 vs 8). On price, rating, review sentiment and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Pixelvale sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and Rootflux sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Pixelvale against 4.5 for Rootflux. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Rootflux has 88 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 67% of Pixelvale's written reviews are positive against 60% of Rootflux's.

Pixelvale ships an update weekly, Rootflux every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pixelvale | Rootflux |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixelvale-nonogram-picross/id6774491715/reviews) | [4.5 (88 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rootflux-idle-game/id6776658493/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 8 | **88** |
| Positive reviews | **66.7% of reviews** | 60.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 53 MB | 161 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Yves Kopmann](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896478388) | [Idle System, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1727483319) |

## What reviewers say

### Pixelvale

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixelvale-nonogram-picross/id6774491715)

Solve logic puzzles to reveal pixel art and build a charming valley. Enjoy a relaxing experience with no timers or pressure, and watch your world grow across seasons. Support development through optional donations.

**Highlights:** Solve logic nonogram puzzles, Build a growing pixel art valley, Experience seasonal changes, Relaxed gameplay with no timers, Offline play, Hand-drawn pixel art

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Thank-You | $0.99 | one-time |
| Coffee for the Valley | $1.99 | one-time |
| A Generous Round | $2.99 | one-time |
| Grand Gesture | $3.99 | one-time |


### Rootflux

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rootflux-idle-game/id6776658493)

An idle growth game where you expand an underground root system. Gather nutrients, strengthen your network, and break through strata to build a deeper living system. Features include idle growth, visible expansion, and long-term systems like challenges and automation.

**Highlights:** Idle nutrient growth, Visible root network expansion, Transport, absorption, branching, and depth upgrades, Permanent growth through strata breakthroughs, Seedfall, challenges, and automation systems, Frequent updates with new content

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ad-Free Pass | $2.99 | one-time |
| Dandelion | $4.99 | one-time |
| Spider | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pixelvale free?

Pixelvale is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Rootflux free?

Rootflux is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Pixelvale or Rootflux?

Pixelvale and Rootflux are both rated 4.5 out of 5 on the App Store, from 8 and 88 ratings respectively.

### Do Pixelvale or Rootflux have ads?

Rootflux shows ads; Pixelvale does not.

### Which is updated more often, Pixelvale or Rootflux?

Pixelvale ships an update weekly, and Rootflux every 3 days. Most recently, Pixelvale was updated on October 31, 2026 and Rootflux on November 7, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*